House Speaker Tim Jones and the members of the Missouri House of Representatives came together this week to stand in defense of the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners. By a vote of 110-41, the House passed HB 1439 that would enact the Second Amendment Preservation Act to protect Missourians from attempts by the federal government to infringe on gun rights.
“I applaud my colleagues for sending a clear message that our state is ready and willing to defend our Second Amendment rights from an overly-intrusive federal government,” said Jones, R-Eureka. “After dealing with the efforts of federal bureaucrats to obtain the private information of law-abiding Missouri gun owners it has become obvious that we must remain ever vigilant in our defense of the rights granted to us by the Constitution. I assure the people of this great state that we will not be lax in our efforts to push back against the misguided efforts of D.C. bureaucrats.”
The bill is similar to legislation approved by the General Assembly last year that was vetoed by the governor. This year’s version invalidates federal laws that restrict or prohibit the manufacture, ownership, and use of firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition exclusively within Missouri. The bill also declares that it is the duty of the courts and law enforcement agencies to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms and that a public officer or state employee cannot have the authority to enforce or attempt to enforce federal firearms laws declared invalid by the act pursuant to well-established anti-commandeering federal jurisprudence.
In addition, the legislation would allow certain school personnel to carry concealed weapons. These school protection officers would be designated by the district and would serve the purpose of protecting school children from any potential threats on school grounds. School personnel would have to obtain both a valid concealed carry permit and complete a training program approved by the director of the Missouri Department of Public Safety in order to qualify for the position of school protection officer.
The bill now heads to the Senate, which already has approved similar legislation.
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